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Monday, September 19, 2016

What Happened in the Berlin Local Elections?

Recent
developments that will change the political balance in Germany has
become very visible. What will be the response in the business world,
how much concern shall we have in the energy sector? Let's call all
along the answer to this question. But first, let's go back a bit

In the spring
of 1945, Russian army started an offensive to reach Berlin, capital
of Nazi Germany. Russians deployed 1,500,000 troops, 6500 battle
tanks, 7,500 aircraft, 40,000 heavy guns. Russians lost 81,000 and
250,000 were wounded. Germans losses were more than 100,000, and
200,000 were wounded. Berlin fell in 2-weeks. Adolf Hitler and his
top generals either committed suicide or surrendered. Surviving
German soldiers and adult men were sent to infamous Gulag camps in
Siberia. The war came to an end. Germany was now divided; West
occupied by the Allied forces and East occupied by Russians.

Soon, Russians
built a great monument in Treptow Park in Berlin to commemorate the
fallen Russian soldiers during Berlin siege. They erected a gigantic
statue of a Russian soldier in uniform and a cape. He is holding a
small girl under his left arm saving her, a sword on his right hand,
an automatic rifle swung on his back, and a swastika under his feet.
Russians and East German administration organized annual
commemoration ceremonies until 9th November 1989, the fall of Berlin
wall.

Germans have
been showing their discomfort about this sculpture, which has
reminded them ruthless repressive occupation forces. They wanted the
removal of the statue which was reminiscent of distasteful practice
of past occupation. Similar statues were removed one by one from
other eastern European countries. Russians insisted and this statue
was kept in place.

In 2015,
Germans organized a rock concert in abandoned Tempelhoff airbase. It
was a Woodstock style festival for young people, with attendance of
70,000 fans. The Concert was a popular event with the youngsters.

This year
"Lollapalooza Rock Festival" was reorganized in Berlin.
This time organizers preferred arrange the festival in Treptow park.
The morning program began with budding young rock bands, then
continued with the better known rock bands later at night. Entrance
fee was 75 Euros per person per day. Young people from every part of
the world were in the festival with more than 100,000 participants.
They consumed traditional German foods schnitzel and wurst, drunk
lots of German beer.

Berlin
"Lollapalooza" Rock Festival is now over. It is now time
for cleaning the dirt that was accumulated during the rock festival.
Berlin Municipality is not sure if the entry fee may be sufficient
to pay the repair, clean the park, remove refuse, wipe out
graffiti, re-sod the grass, and prepare the land for use again.

AFD German
Nationalist party with anti-refugee policies was present in full
force in this concert. They organized a political rally on the second
day at 16: 00. It was observed that AFD found a lot of supporters.
Recent opinion polls showed that the German Chancellor's Popularity
had lowered at alarming levels.

In the 16
September local elections in Berlin, AFD, SPD and Green parties were
the winners. The ruling coalition has lost the majority vote. In
upcoming 2017 general elections, AFD ultranationalist party may get
votes to join the government coalition, and enforce serious
anti-refugee policies, such as limiting the incoming refugees,
deporting illegal refugees. Poland, Hungary, Czech, Austria,
Bulgaria, do not take the refugees to their territory.

How all these
affect foreigners? Current German coalition government in power
pursues moderate foreign policy, they have positive integration
policies towards refugees. Germany has an old age population, at 46
average age. New government with AfD partner will have too
protectionist, xenophobic policies to pursue. The deportation of
illegal refugees to return to their countries may come to practice.
However this practice may not cover foreigners with long term
"residence permit".

It is the most
likely foreseen that entry visa to Germany or Schengen will be too
difficult to get for foreigners, non-Germans, for citizens of non-EU
member countries. In power plant equipment sales, it would not be a
problem, as long as you have money to pay and you can finance your
project.

German power
plant contractors, manufacturers and suppliers of gas turbines, steam
turbines, boilers, software, hardware are ready to deliver their
products and services at all times. However, it is foreseen that it
will be difficult to make contract negotiations in Germany. So you
better organize those meetings in your country.

---

Haluk
Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department
(1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV
companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP), in fabrication, basic and detail
design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power
plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy
analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software
expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities
and research institutions. He is a member of ODTÜ Alumni and Chamber
of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.

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About Me

Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public and, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP, Entergy), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as a freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of METU Alumni and the Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.